Nobody's Victim

May 27, 2019
Victims’ rights lawyer Goldberg shares invaluable insight gleaned from five years of experience helping victims of assault and harassment fight their tormentors in court. She describes past and ongoing cases: one man’s ex-boyfriend posted his information on the hook-up app Grindr, inviting strangers to visit his home for sex; a young woman was manipulated into filming pornography; an adult man extorted a teenager into sending nude photos; a young teen was sexually assaulted by a classmate and, after reporting it to the authorities, was suspended from school. While detailing the cases on which she’s worked, Goldberg traces the history of relevant judicial rulings and legislation, including the legal fight to hold websites responsible for threats posted by users, the evolution of Title IX, and the work of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative to ban the dissemination of “revenge porn.” Goldberg also candidly narrates her personal ordeal with a former boyfriend who threatened her, had her arrested on false charges, and sent her private photos to her friends and family, which put her on the path toward her current career. This is an illuminating and significant window into the present state of victims’ rights and a potentially powerful resource for readers dealing with abuse or harassment. Agent: Adriann Ranta Zurhellen, Foundry Literary + Media.

July 1, 2019
Often shocking tales from a veteran litigator courageously battling menacing stalkers and online predators. Brooklyn-based victims' rights attorney Goldberg profiles hair-raising cases involving extreme stalking, vengeance-driven retaliation, and rejection-fueled abuse in which families, reputations, and livelihoods are systematically dismantled by scorned lovers. The author barely survived the wrath of a vindictive ex-boyfriend, and she began devoting her expertise toward representing clientele who unwittingly become the targets of deranged stalkers, a demographic she feels is grossly underrepresented. The real-life cases she presents--some of which have garnered national media attention--chillingly illustrate the insidious nature of these types of crimes and also act as a necessary call to arms regarding the importance of victim empowerment. Goldberg notes that these incidents are far more common than many of us realize, and the perpetrators are typically male and classic masters of charm and charisma, luring unsuspecting women into whirlwind romances with "jiu-jitsu-level mind games." In the opening section, the author discusses the case of a woman whose boyfriend was discovered to be behind a barrage of mysterious online attacks, which soon turned nefarious once she terminated their relationship. Goldberg attests that many of these assailants are so skillful at using anonymizing software to cover their tracks that the time it takes to prosecute them can be prohibitively lengthy. Other cases feature a high-profile lawsuit involving a gay man viciously terrorized by an ex-lover, an arrogant "professional life-ruiner," victims of "revenge porn," and "sextortionists," who are "part of a vast league of sex predators who use intimidation, threats, and trickery to coerce victims into sex acts." Though the incidents became increasingly complex, they further sharpened Goldberg's mastery in dealing with the cases. From bullied teenagers to women exploited by revenge porn, Goldberg's cases usually get much worse before any kind of resolution is reached, but the author does an important service in bringing these horrific exploitations to light. A significant book that will hopefully spark change.

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from July 1, 2019
Victims' rights lawyer Goldberg's galvanizing memoir educates readers on the devastating realities of cybercrimes. The process of punishing privacy and sex crimes has become a complicated problem for the legal system, particularly since the advent of the internet and social media brought new ways for abusers to target their victims. Goldberg runs a rapidly growing law firm based in Brooklyn, defending clients who have experienced myriad horrors. Many were stalked online by partners; many had intimate images proliferated without their consent; some were raped or assaulted only to have their most traumatic experiences filmed, uploaded to the web, and mocked by anonymous trolls. Goldberg especially highlights survivors of color and their frequent mistreatment by authorities. Her clients' case studies are intermixed with stories of psychos, stalkers, and perverts from her own life; Goldberg is clear that her experience as a survivor is exactly what makes her such a fierce advocate for others. The book is full of information about current cyber privacy laws (like those targeting revenge porn) that is certain to help readers better understand their own rights in an evolving legal landscape. Engrossing and unique, this is an important addition to the canon of #MeToo-era social science tomes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2019

Victims' rights lawyer Goldberg gained attention after a 2016 New Yorker profile described her as "the attorney fighting revenge porn." The author's first book expounds on her role as a consummate lawyer for the #MeToo era and delves into not only specific clients' cases and nightmare scenarios but also the events that motivated her to start her own firm. Goldberg was working in the nonprofit sector when she was swept off her feet by someone who later became controlling and psychically abusive; when she ended the relationship, he began stalking and terrorizing her, armed with digital ammunition. The fallout gradually consumed Goldberg's life. In her practice she seeks to provide the kind of legal and emotional support she found lacking in her own experience, taking cases without any guarantee of payment, as many of her clients are traumatized, frequently marginalized, and disbelieved. Clashing with big tech companies such as Grindr, whose executives appear to care little for how their platforms are misused, Goldberg must navigate both the intricacies of First Amendment rights as well as copyright law as it relates to digital ownership and right to privacy. VERDICT Timely, disturbing, and informative; for all collections. [See Prepub Alert, 2/4/19.]--Barrie Olmstead, Lewiston P.L., ID

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2019

Victim's rights lawyer Goldberg, who assists victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, blackmail, and revenge porn, here explains how she uses unrelenting advocacy, risk-taking, and client empowerment to challenge opponents in court.

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.